Saturday, 5 March 2011

2 of the 10 high-impact technologies I discuss in my new book are ‘Robotics’ and ‘Machine Intelligence.’ And one of the kernels of such technologies is how such apparatus not only evolve, but impact on us human-beings and our culture.

With regard to this, back in 1942, Isaac Asimov, the author and futurist, set out ‘The Three Laws of Robotics.’

The Laws are:

1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2) A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Initially the Laws were thought-out in the context and application to Asimov’s science fiction works. However, what was once abject-out-there fiction, is fast becoming fact.

Leaps and bound are being made in Robotics and Machine Intelligence.

So it got me wondering? Wondering – in today’s and even tomorrow’s context – whether Asimov’s Three Laws needed up dating?

Asimov has in fact made slight modifications to the first three in various books and stories to further develop how robots would interact with humans and each other. Asimov himself added a fourth, or zeroth, law to precede the first three stating:

0. A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.Three Laws, and the fourth, are not completely appropriate for future robotic constraints but rather that their basic premise, to prevent robots from harming humans, will ensure robots are acceptable in their actions to the general public.

However, there is a more profound, yet broader way of looking at the Three Laws that both confirm, expand and better their moral influence.

Hence ‘The Three Higher Laws of Robotics:’

1. To assist in the development of human benevolent and mindful ethics.2. To physically and morally care and cure the infirm, needy and sick.3. To augment rational, accelerated learning and intellectual development.

These are of course a first draft, and will undergo some thought before being published in my new book.

Friday, 4 March 2011

Here are a few concepts in which Nike use singular swoosh power to create serious buzz.

The kind of buzz that goes viral because people love it. Because they are having fun doing it.

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This kind of concept/campaign ticks all the boxes. It creates a unique, fun offline experience and then shares it with the online world. You film it, and that becomes the TV ad; you photograph it and that becomes the print ad; and both are used in online and social network campaigns. Put all those together with individual participants’ own social network buzz and you have a run-away funfest across channels.

But it all starts with an offline experience that is big enough to create that initial pick-up spontaneously and authentically. It must be worth their while.

Then people will talk about it online, bloggers will feature it, and the rest of media will cover it.

When serious, authentic viral kicks in, it proves that consumers loved what you did and want to share it. That is worth more than any push campaign result because it has become THEIR experience.

We start with a swoosh-shaped Nike Extreme Swoosh Toboggan Ride – a toboggan slide shaped like the swoosh. Of course, the toboggans themselves are shaped like swooshes, too. You can try this at the coolest ski resorts of the world.

From Berlin Germany, Metrofarm Studio has produced a number of stunning, custom built DJ Desks. Having released a concrete DJ table a couple of years back, the new desks, in folded stainless steel and wood painted black and neon orange demand attention.

But they're not just for finely tuned vinyl slingers looking for the perfect ergonomic ratios to heighten their musical flow. They're for anybody with a musical mind and an eye for detail, looking to add spark to a lounge room, club or gallery.

Tuesday, 1 March 2011

Using pop-culture icons and the latest trends, the Pop-Up Skatpark creates ultra-cool skating environments, designed to garner the ultimate media exposure through their incredible appeal and popularity.

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Currently I know of two Pop-Up Skate Park themes in production – Transformers and Space Invaders — both ideal promotional media for high-energy brands that want to attract serious attention.

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This is a fully customizable skating environment, designed for each specific location’s surroundings, and incorporating a range of innovative ramps, bowls, half-pipes and landings.

. Two oversized Autobot Transformer robots, impressively positioned at either end of the skate park, signify guardianship of the ramp and those who use it, echoing seamlessly the Transformers film concept of robots protecting humans.

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An all-encompassing landscape of illumination and light-projected designs enhance the skating environment. There is also the option of showcasing a range of rotating art works to further emphasize this hyper- real environment.

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Space Invaders, in turn, are arguably the biggest pop-cultural icons of the 1970s!

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The original characters that introduced the world to the realm of video gaming through their pixilated aesthetics, enjoy the unique advantage of multi-generational appeal.

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Globally, from children of the 70s through to Generation Y, the public has recognized and appreciated these characters for their cool simplicity..

Alien invaders and super-sizing them for their unique Skatepark. A pair of larger-than-life Space Invader characters frame the two ends of the skating environment. Made from translucent Perspex, these illuminated figures create the visual masthead for the Skate Invaders Park.

The main idea of this project is architectonics and aesthetics of the new environment, which it creates. Also it has a purpose to be an alternative model for the architecture of the future.

This complex is designed to be in Armenia - Yerevan, (in the canyon of Hrazdan) which is situated not far from the historical center of the city. The whole complex is located in such a place, which can be considered as an entrance to the center of the city.

By making some major changes with the environment where it is situated it also recreates the perception of an urban environment in Yerevan.

Here the idea of skyscraper is analyzed and designed in alternative way, with taking into consideration a human development, connection between human and nature, human scale.

I have analyzed the concept of a skyscraper in several ways; the most important thing is to understand a skyscraper as a vertical growth of urban environment (especially urban environment of central business district).

This proposal suggests the idea of 'continual growth' of skyscrapers, which can be the next stage of development.